Joseph Roberts

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ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES 'MARTIN BRODEUR DAY'

Chamber Honors NJ Devils Goaltender in Becoming the All-Time NHL Leader in Regular Season Wins by a Goaltender

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package honoring New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur for achieving a record-setting 558 career wins, becoming the all-time NHL leader in regular season wins by a goaltender.

Brodeur, a West Orange resident who has played with the New Jersey Devils for his entire NHL career, surpassed the win record of 551 games, previously held by Patrick Roy, on March 17.

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ROBERTS/WATSON COLEMAN/GREENWALD ON BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED TAX AMNESTY REVENUE FIGURES

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman and Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Louis D. Greenwald today issued a multimedia package discussing Governor Jon S. Corzine's announcement that the state's tax amnesty program has exceeded revenue projections and what it means for the FY 2010 Budget.

*Update: Read Gov. Corzine's statements on the windfall here and here. 

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) called the discovery of about $400 million in unanticipated tax amnesty revenue today "great news," and said that legislators will start working it into the budget that was originally expected to be passed today. 

Roberts said that the Assembly Budget Committee will meet Monday to discuss how to use the money to restore property tax relief, and he expects the assembly to vote on the final budget package next Thursday.

“Considering this development, it would be imprudent to advance budget bills today now that we can responsibly improve them,” he said.

Roberts also lauded his own party for creating the tax amnesty program.

“This development again shows how New Jersey Democrats have indeed been ahead of the curve in responding to this economic crisis. Those who criticized this program and never offered an alternative must now confront the reality that this was the nation’s most successful tax amnesty program and a smart and sensible policy,” he said. 

SWEEPING STATE ECONOMIC STIMULUS MEASURE
CLEARS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
Would Place Moratorium on Nonresidential Development Fee,
Expand Transit Hub Tax Credit, Fuel Redevelopment,
Allow Colleges to Partner with Private Firms To Build Infrastructure

(TRENTON) - Landmark legislation that would maximize New Jersey's federal stimulus investments, promote economic growth and development efforts vital to pulling the state out from the current recession and positioning it for long-term prosperity was released today by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Steven Lonegan reaffirmed his support for GOP nominee Christopher Christie in an email to supporters today, but under the condition that Christie sticks to the conservative principles he professed in the primary.

"Our nominee for Governor has openly embraced conservatism and if he continues on that path, all of us should work hard for his election," wrote Lonegan.  "As the Republican nominee Chris Christie will also have to maintain his positions on the issues that convinced many Republicans he was a conservative, and convince many in the GOP establishment to go with him."

Christie beat Lonegan by 13 points in last week's primary - 55% to 42%.  Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham) received 3% of the vote.

"You have moved your party to the right," Lonegan wrote to his supporters.

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President Joan Verplanck is reportedly under consideration to become Jon Corzine's running mate

Democratic sources say that Gov. Jon Corzine is seriously considering Joan Verplanck, the President of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce for the last fourteen years and a Republicna, for Lt. Governor.  Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) is also reportedly in contention to become Corzine's running mate.

Verplanck and the business advocacy group she heads have become closely allied with Corzine over the last few years.  She angered Republicans by endorsing Corzine's plan to raise tolls, causing some GOP legislators to call on local businesses to leave the group. Earlier this year, GOP gubernatorial candidates skipped the organization's annual train trip to Washington, D.C., criticizing the traditional event that offered access to the state's political leaders.  Verplanck called the GOP protest "stupid."

Twelve members of the State Assembly had more than $100,000 cash on hand as of the most recent reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission:

Congratulations to Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy), who becomes the first sitting legislator to be indicted by both federal and state grand juries under the current State Constitution.  The state indictment of Mims Hackett (D-Orange) came after his arrest on federal corruption charges and after his resignation from the State Assembly.

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ROBERTS, VOSS & ADVOCATES COMMENTARY ON ADVANCEMENT OF BILL PROVIDING COVERAGE OF AUTISM TREATMENTS

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., today issued a multimedia package on legislation he sponsored with Assembly members Joan M. Voss and Vincent Prieto to require health insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary treatments of disorders on the autism spectrum.

The measure (A-2238) follows the 2007 enactment of seven laws that made New Jersey a national leader in providing support to families with autistic members.  It would require health insurers to cover the expenses of treatments deemed medically necessary for autism-spectrum disorders, which include Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder and Rhett's Syndrome.  Insurance coverage would be extended to physical, speech and occupational therapies, as well as behavioral interventions.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) has picked Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark) to replace Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy) on the Assembly Budget Committee.  Vas was stripped of his committee assignments and leadership posts following his indictment on state corruption charges last month.

Celeste Riley (D-Bridgeton), who won a special election convention to replace Douglas Fisher, who is now the Secretary of Agriculture, will take Fisher's seat on the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.  She has also been assigned to the Regulated Professions and Telecommunications and Utilities Committee.

Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) has been named to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for the remainder of the legislative session.  She will replace Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton), who too Vas' post as Chairman of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.